Statewide scores released recently for last year's sophomore class show more Rockville High students are meeting or exceeding the state's standard in math, language arts and science than did their peers (now seniors) in 1995.

The percentage of Rockville High students mastering the interdisciplinary section of the exam fell, however, from 49 percent to 40 percent.

``The results are still favorable,'' said Edmund Nocera, assistant superintendent of schools. ``We did make progress. [But] there's still a lot of room for growth. Our goal is for continued improvement.''

In math, 52 percent of the students met or exceeded the standard, while 50 percent did so in science. That represents a 7 percent increase in both subjects. The biggest improvement came in language arts, where 40 percent of the students met the goal, compared with 30 percent the previous year. A total of 255 students took the exam, 10 more than the year before.

Vernon's scores were above state averages in each category. When measured against 15 other comparable school districts, the town placed at the top in two subjects and near the top in the other two, Nocera said.

Rockville Principal Chuck Landroche ascribed at least some of the improvements to an ``action plan'' developed after the first test. Teachers and department heads studied the results, and changes were made to the curriculum. Students also have been familiarized with the test's format before taking it.

The current sophomore class will take the exam in May. Those meeting the goal in a particular subject have it designated on their high school transcript. Juniors and seniors who fail to meet the standards are encouraged to try again, Landroche said. Failing to meet a standard does not prevent graduation.

Landroche said the latest results will be studied to see if further changes are warranted. Particular attention will be given to why fewer students reached the goal on the interdisciplinary section. At the state level, the percentage of students meeting that goal also dipped while the percentage achieving the standard on the test's three other portions increased.